Despite “America’s Got Talent” airing on NBC for 14 years without suffering any scandals, the show now faces a barrage of fire from Hollywood’s left-wing elite over dubious, unsubstantiated allegations of alleged on-set racism and toxicity.
The accusations were made by a slew of anonymous “America’s Got Talent” insiders and center around former host Gabrielle Union, who, along with former host Julianne Hough, was released from her contract last month.
According to the anonymous sources, the troubles began last April, when Union complained about an allegedly racist joke made by legendary comedian Jay Leno, an industry veteran who boasts not only over 40 years of experience on stage but also experience dealing with politically correct crybabies.
Case in point, circa 2015:
Dovetailing back to the present …
“Leno taped an interstitial segment in the presence of show judges including Gabrielle Union … While taping, Leno made a crack about a painting on display in a hallway of Simon Cowell, the show’s executive producer and judge, surrounded by his dogs,” Variety magazine wrote in a report published last Tuesday.
The report continued, “Leno joked that the pets looked like something one would find ‘on the menu at a Korean restaurant,’ four people present for the taping told Variety.”
For reasons that remain unclear, Union, a new hire, reportedly filed a human resources complaint over this joke. And thus allegedly began her downfall.
She has for her part neither confirmed nor denied the allegations, though she did post the following tweet that members of both the Hollywood Twitterati and the hypocritical Time’s Up movement appear to believe is proof positive that the allegations are legit.
Observe:
So many tears, so much gratitude. THANK YOU! Just when you feel lost, adrift, alone… you got me up off the ground. Humbled and thankful, forever ❤
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) November 28, 2019
I’m just catching up on this. This is terrible. You should not be penalized for trying to have a workplace that honors the rule of law in the workplace.
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) November 28, 2019
Gabrielle Union (ranked #1 talent on NBC in 2019) was fired from America’s Got Talent for reporting racism and sexism. She is a TRUE champion of diversity and inclusion for people of color, the LGBTQ community and women. She deserves much better than this.https://t.co/YuTF7pAfIS
— Ashlee Marie Preston (@AshleeMPreston) November 27, 2019
It’s unfortunate that @nbc the same network that protected disgusting men like Matt Lauer and punished women for speaking out or not putting up with it…has not changed their practices or culture. I support @itsgabrielleu commitment to speaking up to injustice. It takes courage
— Ellen Pompeo (@EllenPompeo) November 28, 2019
thank you for this @EllenPompeo. be better @nbc. we’re with you @itsgabrielleu. ? https://t.co/UMfcqJZ46w
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) November 28, 2019
Thank you for this @EllenPompeo. This is disgusting behavior from a network that has been my professional home for decades. Yes, women become “difficult,” when their insistence on a respectful and professional working environment, is ignored. Addressing a hostile work https://t.co/gcI0nKLat0
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) November 28, 2019
environment is inconvenient when there is a huge money making machine that is involved. It is cowardice, greed, and protection of the status quo revealed. Being “hands off,” is inexcusable and reflects a laissez faire attitude toward systemic racism and sexism. @itsgabrielleu
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) November 28, 2019
After the Jay Leno incident, Union reportedly began to develop a reputation among the show’s creator/producer, Simon Cowell, and his team as someone “difficult” to deal with, according to other insider sources who spoke with Vulture magazine.
It didn’t help that the actress even complained about Cowell, the show’s creator and producer, smoking inside the theater where the show was filmed.
“Union, who is allergic to cigarette smoke, was repeatedly rebuffed when she asked other staff members to request that Cowell stop smoking inside,” Vulture reported. “Sources say Union was told by an NBC executive and production staff on the program that no one could stop Cowell from smoking and that previous attempts by a fire marshal and NBC executives had been unsuccessful.”
According to Variety’s sources, on one occasion the actress even “expressed concerns over a white male performer crossing a line in portraying people of color.”
“The contestant’s gimmick involved rapid costume changes inside a larger garment, while impersonating a multitude of famous singers. In one such quick change, the contestant emerged in the guise of Beyoncé Knowles. His hands appeared as black, meant to be a character accent, three witnesses to the audition said,” the magazine reported.
There is a disturbing belief among racial grievance mongers that white people cannot dress as, play the role of or emulate in any way black people. Some even believe it’s morally wrong for white children to dress as their black role models.
According to Variety’s sources, both Union and Hough were also allegedly frequently harangued over their physical appearance.
“Union and Hough were also said by sources to have received excessive notes on their physical appearance,” the magazine reported. “Two insiders familiar with the set said Hough had received consistent criticism on hair, makeup and wardrobe, which impacted her morale and led to tensions.”
However, Hough has denied this set of accusations.
“I had a wonderful time on ‘America’s Got Talent,'” she said in a statement. “I loved working with the cast, crew and producers. I am happy to continue my working relationship with NBC.”
This calls into question the validity of all the accusations, including the one that Union was criticized by the top brass at “AGT” for sporting hairstyles that were “too black.”
As noted earlier, Union has for her part neither confirmed nor denied the allegations, though her husband, Dwyane Wade, has suggested in tweets that she was fired for “standing up for what she stands for,” i.e., for their community.
Look:
“Men lie, Women lie, numbers don’t” Over this past year I’ve been approached by many people saying that my wife @itsgabrielleu is the main reason they’ve started watching #AGT or that they love her insight and sincerity on the show.
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) November 27, 2019
So when i got the news that my wife was being fired—my first question was obviously why!? Iam still waiting on a good answer to that question. But if anyone knows @itsgabrielleu or have heard of her you know she’s an advocate for our community and culture.
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) November 27, 2019
As proud as i were of her being selected as a judge on #AGT— Iam even more proud of her standing up for what she stands for and that’s US.
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) November 27, 2019
So ? to you @itsgabrielleu on not losing sight of the lessons we’ve talked about teaching our daughter and for kicking ass while you were on that platform. Number 1 judge on one of the biggest shows in the world‼️
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) November 27, 2019
It’s unclear whether Union and Wade have Korean in their blood …
The only other racial accusations that “America’s Got Talent” has ever been linked to involved former host Nick Cannon. As the host of a show geared toward young children, he was asked to stop using the N-word in his regular comedy routines, and this reportedly angered him:
Nick Cannon quits the show after claiming that NBC execs are trying to “silence” him, after a racial joke he made.
— 93.3 The Beat (@933thebeatjamz) March 17, 2017
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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.
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